New Commissioners Launch Careers at Institute Training Conference
More than 220 recently elected county commissioners attended the four-day Newly Elected Commissioners Conference in Athens December 4-7. The officials took the opportunity to network and engage in professional development in preparation for their new roles. The Vinson Institute and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) offered the event in partnership as a way to help upcoming officials gain the skills they need to effectively serve their constituents.
The training provided at the conference helped leaders from nearly every county in Georgia develop a fundamental understanding of county government and their responsibilities as commissioners with topics that included consensus-building, county finances, teamwork, ethics, and management.
The partnership between the Institute and ACCG represents just one way the University of Georgia fulfills its public service mission, Vice President for Public Service and Outreach Jennifer Frum said in welcoming the elected officials to Athens.
"Please know that the Vinson Institute and all of our public service units exist only to serve you," said Frum.
Daylong programs at the conference focused on helping new commissioners broaden their understanding of government operation and management. The elected officials, most of whom will embark on their first term in January, practiced building valuable partnerships that can help achieve community goals and delved into nuts-and-bolts methods of facilitating economic development, maintaining a diverse tax base, and working with county employees.
Presenters from the Institute featured Management Development Associates Catherine Bennett and Jacque Booker, Public Service Associate Philip Boyle, Demography Specialist Matt Hauer, and Local Government Program Manager Murray Weed. In addition to Institute faculty, conference speakers included veteran county commissioners, city and county managers, and state officials such as Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, Attorney General Sam Olens, and Secretary of State Brian Kemp.
